Oral Health and Dementia Subtypes: How Mouth Health Might Influence Alzheimer’s and Vascular Dementia
Official title: Elucidating the Link Between Oral Health and Dementia Subtypes: A Multifaceted Study on the Biological Pathways and Social Determinants
Funded at New York University · NIH-11362506 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large NIH grant is exploring whether and how oral health problems like gum disease and tooth loss relate to different forms of dementia, using big datasets and biological markers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $777,816 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG089856-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11362506 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with varying levels of oral health history and those at risk for or diagnosed with Alzheimer’s-type dementia or vascular dementia.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without links between oral health and dementia or those outside the study’s data sources may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how poor oral health could contribute to dementia by examining inflammatory processes and brain markers. Researchers will analyze extensive national datasets and linked medical records to explore links with Alzheimer’s-type dementia and vascular dementia. The study aims to uncover biological pathways and social factors that shape these relationships, helping identify potentially modifiable risks. The work will build on prior findings about amyloid and periodontal bacteria to understand subtype-specific connections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify oral-health interventions that may reduce dementia risk or slow progression for some people.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has shown associations between poor oral health and dementia, but subtype-specific mechanisms remain to be clarified.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Qi, Xiang — New York University
- Study coordinator: Qi, Xiang
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.